Question For G-Town

I saw this sticker on the side of a Swift trailer.

So, is Swift that worried that the drivers are either going to be goofing off or dead?

This is an asset based business. These companies need their assets working for them. If equipment is sitting idle it could be missing or stolen, or perhaps they've simply lost track of it. Any large trucking company I've worked for has a long list of missing trailers. They usually offer rewards to the employees who can give some insight to where these trailers are. I think that decal is a way to help them with some of these issues.

That's funny. I don't know what Swift worries about Patrick, they don't include me in those discussions. But considering their trailer fleet approaches 50,000 units, things can be misplaced and eventually forgotten. Empty trailers are precious.

I too have seen this on a few of the newer trailers parked at 7030. For the most part it has nothing to do with underperforming or deceased drivers (as Old School pointed out). These notices typically apply to trailers in JIT or retail Dedicated service that by design do not sit around for days at a time. It's also used as a manual notification system to compliment the telemetry-tracking on the trailers in the event they are parked in a place they don't belong.

Walmart has similar markings on some of their reefer fleet because they don't want them sitting unladen for too long. Plus their reefer trailers are ridiculously expensive so asset utilization is very important. Just as an FYI I have been asked to perform spot audits (checks) at some of our backhaul vendors to verify asset tracking. Available trailers are a priceless component to any operation's efficiency.

I understand some trailers get misplaced, even stolen. Just the first time I have seen a sticker like that. Just kinda piqued my curiosity.

We have a 48' trailer at HOW that was stolen 6months or so ago. Still not found. There was another issue with theft that happened last year from the fancy footwear lot in Lebanon, TN. Someone was taking newer MTs out of the storage lot. Stealing the rims and tires. Putting junk rim and tires on, then putting it back in the storage lot there.

Enlarge the red placard on this brand new Walmart trailer. It's a similar notice.

Do you not do 34 hour resets at Swift?

These notices typically apply to trailers in JIT or retail Dedicated service that by design do not sit around for days at a time. It's also used as a manual notification system to compliment the telemetry-tracking on the trailers in the event they are parked in a place they don't belong.

I did not read this before typing that, and we have no edit function.

Do you not do 34 hour resets at Swift?

Of course we do, especially on Dedicated retail accounts.

I get what you're saying. In those cases if someone calls the number very to easy to verify if the trailer is under dispatch with a tractor coupled to it.

At Prime we have GPS on the trailers so they know where they are. However, they assume if the customer has noy loaded the trailer in a week, there is probably maintenance issues...reefer not working, out of fuel, flat tire etc. For this reason they sometimes have me go to out of the way places to grab an empty instead of the place down the street.

also, we pay storage fees for some of the ports. so if the trailer has been sitting there a couple days i normally go get it.

At Prime we have GPS on the trailers so they know where they are.

So does Swift, so does Walmart, so do most carriers.

The "stuff" above the a, r and t in the "Walmart" graphic is the telemetry equipment and solar power supply. These devices were first implemented on intermodal trailers to track time-sensitive rail shipments across the country. Most trailers have this technology now, it's a common asset management tool.